Question:
What happens to your body after you stop drinking?
Answer:
Why Do I Get Anxiety After Drinking Alcohol?
An alcohol hangover is not a pleasant experience. When sobering up from a night of drinking, many people report feeling more anxious. This seems counter-intuitive since people use alcohol to feel good. Why alcohol increases anxiety is the question.
The reason for anxiety after drinking lies in how alcohol impacts the brain. Alcohol interferes with the brain’s communication pathways and changes the way people think and behave.
Initially, it lowers inhibitions and causes a sense of euphoria. This can make a person feel less inhibited and more social, leading people to become more outgoing than they otherwise are temporarily. This social anxiety, along with cultural and religious purposes stretching back millennia, is why many people consume alcohol.
But alcohol can also lead to people feeling more anxiety once it wears off. Initially, alcohol floods the brain with dopamine, a feel-good chemical linked to your brain’s reward system. When you stop drinking, your dopamine levels fall, producing anxiety. Some may even experience panic attacks because of the effects of alcohol the next day. Alcohol can cause or worsen feelings of anxiety, leading to a vicious cycle of drinking to not feel anxiety, but then feeling anxious due to drinking.
Many people experience anxiety after drinking, a phenomenon sometimes called post drinking anxiety or hangover anxiety.
This is especially common if a person has a lot to drink and then wakes up with a hangover. The anxiety that accompanies hangovers is sometimes referred to as “hangxiety.” Hangover anxiety and hangover related anxiety are terms used to describe the blend of ‘hangover’ and ‘anxiety,’ which involves feelings of dread, shame, and physical discomfort experienced the morning after drinking, with symptoms including shakiness and nausea.
The symptoms of hangxiety can include:
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Feelings of unease, worry, or fear, which can be intense or mild
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Restlessness or feeling on edge
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Difficulty concentrating or finding that your mind goes blank
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Irritability
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Sleep disturbances, including insomnia or intense, distressing dreams
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Physical symptoms like a rapid heart rate, palpitations, dry mouth, upset stomach, headache, or sweating
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Racing thoughts, irrational worry, trembling, guilt, and pounding headache
These are common hangxiety symptoms. Physical symptoms of hangxiety can include dehydration, racing heart, tremors, sweating, headache, and nausea, and these are often accompanied by psychological symptoms such as anxious feelings and irrational worry.
These effects vary depending on multiple factors including the amount consumed, the frequency of consumption, the individual’s body size, overall health, tolerance, and genetics. Dehydration, sleep deprivation, and low blood sugar levels after drinking can contribute to hangxiety. Research indicates that between 12% and 22% of people experience hangxiety after drinking alcohol, with women and those with pre-existing anxiety disorders being more susceptible. As alcohol leaves the body, GABA levels drop and glutamate levels spike, resulting in overstimulation and anxiety. The release of adrenaline during alcohol detoxification can lead to feelings of restlessness and anxiety, similar to mild withdrawal symptoms. Cortisol and adrenaline surges triggered by alcohol can cause a racing heart and feelings of impending doom. Physiological changes from alcohol disrupt brain chemistry, causing anxiety symptoms after drinking. Hangxiety can be particularly problematic for individuals with social anxiety, as they may rely on alcohol to feel more confident in social situations, only to experience heightened anxiety afterward.
Alcohol intolerance can also cause symptoms such as warmth, flushing, and anxiety-like symptoms, and it is important to distinguish alcohol intolerance from anxiety disorders. Other symptoms of alcohol intolerance can include sleepiness, excitability, and mood-related issues. Hangxiety is often accompanied by other hangover symptoms, and recognizing these can help determine the severity of the hangover.
If you or a loved one is suffering from alcohol use disorder, please seek professional treatment.
Does Alcohol Cause Anxiety?
The relationship between alcohol and anxiety is complex and bidirectional.
This means that each can influence the onset and progression of the other. Drinking alcohol can lead to increased anxiety; many people also abuse alcohol due to preexisting anxiety disorders. Drinking behaviors and drinking habits can significantly impact daily life and mental health, making it important to examine these patterns to better understand and manage hangxiety.
It’s estimated that 40 million Americans suffer from some kind of anxiety disorder at any given time. One in five of those with anxiety disorders report using alcohol to cope with stress, which is known as self-medication. Research indicates that between 12% and 22% of people experience hangxiety, with higher prevalence among those with social anxiety or diagnosed anxiety disorders.
While alcohol can first alleviate the anxiety a person may feel, the results are temporary. After the alcohol wears off, the anxiety comes back stronger than before. Alcohol and anxiety can thus feed into each other in a vicious cycle. Alcohol can also disrupt sleep quality, which may worsen feelings of anxiety the following day, contributing to hangxiety.
Long-term alcohol dependence can lead to significant neurobiological and structural changes in the brain, resulting in increased anxiety. Withdrawal and hangover symptoms can also mimic or exacerbate the symptoms of anxiety disorders. Alcohol affects the nervous system by altering neurotransmitter activity, impacting emotional regulation and anxiety levels. Additionally, alcohol can cause blood sugar levels to drop, which may trigger stress hormones and anxiety symptoms. Alcohol affects people from all walks of life, so anyone can develop a drinking problem. Many people use alcohol as a social lubricant, with about two drinks (a blood alcohol concentration of 0.055) typically increasing feelings of relaxation and reducing shyness.
While treatment of one condition can often significantly help the other, the best results usually come from treating both conditions simultaneously. This is what is known as dual diagnosis treatment. Professional resources such as therapy programs and treatment centers offering comprehensive addiction and mental health care are essential for those struggling with substance use and co-occurring disorders.
How “Hangxiety” Happens: The Role of Brain Chemistry
When it comes to hangxiety, brain chemistry plays a pivotal role in how you feel after drinking alcohol. Alcohol directly affects neurotransmitters in the brain, including gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), dopamine, and serotonin. GABA is known for its calming effects and helps reduce anxiety, while dopamine is responsible for those pleasurable, rewarding feelings you might experience during a night of drinking. Serotonin, on the other hand, helps regulate mood, appetite, and sleep.
As the effects of alcohol wear off, the levels of these neurotransmitters can drop sharply. This sudden change can leave you feeling anxious, irritable, or even depressed. The decrease in GABA can make it harder for your brain to calm itself, while lower dopamine and serotonin levels can contribute to feelings of anxiety and low mood. Understanding how drinking alcohol impacts your brain chemistry can empower you to make choices that reduce anxiety and help you manage hangxiety more effectively.
Folic Acid and Hangxiety
Folic acid is an essential nutrient that plays a significant role in mental health, and its deficiency has been linked to increased anxiety after drinking. Alcohol consumption can lower your body’s folic acid levels, making you more susceptible to hangxiety and other mood disturbances. When folic acid levels drop, your brain may struggle to regulate mood and stress, which can intensify feelings of anxiety after drinking.
To help manage anxiety symptoms and support your mental health, it’s important to maintain healthy folic acid levels. Incorporating foods rich in folic acid—such as leafy greens, legumes, and whole grains—into your diet can be beneficial. In some cases, supplements may also help, but it’s best to consult with a healthcare provider before starting any new regimen. By prioritizing a balanced diet and limiting alcohol consumption, you can help prevent folic acid deficiency and reduce your risk of experiencing hangxiety.
Alcohol and Anxiety Create a Vicious Cycle
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Call 866-881-1184How to Stop Anxiety After Drinking Alcohol
If you are dealing with anxiety after drinking, here are some strategies to cope with anxiety after drinking alcohol:
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Hydrate: Alcohol can cause dehydration, which exacerbates feelings of anxiety. Drink plenty of water after consuming alcohol, and try alternating between an alcoholic drink and water to help prevent dehydration.
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Healthy Eating: Your body needs nutrients to recover from any damage caused by alcohol. Eating healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can help replenish your body, restore balance, and boost your mood after drinking.
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Replenish Electrolytes: Drinking sports drinks can help restore electrolytes and stabilize blood sugar levels, easing physical hangover symptoms and supporting physical functioning.
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Exercise: Light exercise, such as walking or yoga, can help your body recover, stimulate brain chemistry, and reduce hangxiety.
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Practice Mindfulness: Engage in mindfulness practices like yoga, meditation, and deep breathing exercises. Practicing mindfulness through deep breathing can help calm anxiety during hangxiety episodes and increase your ability to cope with stress.
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Limit Caffeine: Avoid caffeine as it can increase feelings of anxiety and agitation.
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Choose Herbal Teas: Herbal teas are a calming alternative to caffeine and nicotine, and can help reduce anxiety symptoms.
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Rest: Make sure you get plenty of sleep. Sleep deprivation can amplify feelings of anxiety, worsen post drinking anxiety, and intensify hangxiety symptoms.
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Reach out to Others: Don’t isolate yourself. Reach out to supportive friends or family, or join a support group. Expressing your feelings and connecting with others can help reduce anxiety.
If hangxiety occurs frequently, it may indicate a need to reduce or eliminate alcohol consumption.
Managing hangxiety involves hydrating, eating nutritious food, resting, practicing relaxation techniques, and avoiding further substance use such as more alcohol or caffeine. Moderating alcohol intake to no more than one or two standard drinks per occasion can help avoid hangxiety. Eating a substantial meal before drinking can slow alcohol absorption and reduce hangxiety. Choosing lighter-colored alcoholic drinks, such as vodka or gin, may reduce the likelihood and severity of hangxiety compared to darker liquors. Planning drinking occasions by avoiding drinking on an empty stomach or when stressed can also help lessen the impact of alcohol on your body and mind. Be mindful of over the counter medications, and always check labels for potential interactions with alcohol.
Physical hangover symptoms can exacerbate anxious feelings and impact physical functioning, making daily activities more difficult. Post drinking anxiety can manifest as both emotional and physical symptoms after alcohol consumption. Sometimes, individuals may use more alcohol to cope with hangxiety, but this can worsen the condition and make it harder to break free from problematic drinking patterns. Eliminating alcohol is an effective way to reduce the effects of hangxiety. Replenishing electrolytes and stabilizing blood sugar levels are also critical for easing the physical triggers of hangxiety.
The best way to avoid anxiety after drinking is to stop drinking alcohol. If you find this too difficult to do alone, it may be time to consider professional treatment.
What Are the Signs of Alcohol Addiction?
Alcohol addiction, also known as alcoholism or alcohol use disorder, is a chronic, relapsing disease characterized by an inability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences. Problematic drinking behaviors and drinking habits can significantly impact daily life, affecting routines, relationships, and overall well-being.
Recognizing the signs of alcohol addiction can be crucial in seeking help.
These signs include:
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Anxiety
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Inability to control the amount of alcohol consumed
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Drinking alone
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Neglecting important responsibilities in order to drink
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Powerful cravings for alcohol
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High tolerance for alcohol
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Withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, sweating, and shaking
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Not taking care of physical appearance
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Poor sleep patterns
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Rapid weight loss or weight gain
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Preoccupation with drinking
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Legal issues
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Psychological symptoms such as depression or increased anxiety after drinking
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Decline in physical functioning, including fatigue or difficulty performing daily activities
It’s important to note that while these signs can be indicative of alcohol addiction, only a healthcare professional can provide a proper diagnosis. If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol use, it’s important to seek alcohol addiction treatment. Treatment centers offering comprehensive addiction and mental health care are essential for those struggling with substance use and co-occurring disorders. Professional resources such as therapy programs are available to address underlying anxiety or alcohol use patterns.
Tips to Stop Drinking
It may be that you need professional alcohol addiction treatment. However, there are other things you can do that can help if you are not ready to take that step, or compliment treatment:
Build a Support Network
Building a strong support network is a key component in managing hangxiety and improving your overall mental health. Whether it’s friends, family, or a mental health professional, having people you trust to talk to about your feelings of anxiety and emotional pain can make a significant difference. Sharing your experiences and concerns can help you process emotions, gain perspective, and develop effective coping strategies.
A support network can also encourage you to reduce alcohol consumption and adopt healthier habits. If you’re struggling with mental health issues or find it difficult to manage hangxiety on your own, joining a support group or seeking help from a mental health professional can provide the guidance and encouragement you need.
Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle
Adopting a healthy lifestyle is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of hangxiety and support your mental health. Eating a balanced diet, staying hydrated, engaging in regular exercise, and getting quality sleep all contribute to stable brain chemistry and lower stress hormones. These habits not only help manage anxiety symptoms but also improve your overall sense of well-being.
It’s also important to avoid triggers that can worsen anxiety, such as excessive alcohol consumption, certain medications, and high-stress situations. Incorporating relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or yoga into your daily routine can help you manage anxiety and promote a sense of calm. By making these healthy choices, you can better manage anxiety, support your mental health, and reduce the likelihood of experiencing hangxiety after drinking alcohol.
Avoiding Triggers
Managing hangxiety often starts with identifying and avoiding your personal triggers. Excessive alcohol consumption, binge drinking, drinking on an empty stomach, and certain stressful social situations can all trigger anxiety after drinking. By becoming aware of these triggers, you can take proactive steps to protect your mental health.
Developing healthy coping strategies—such as regular exercise, mindfulness practices, or creative hobbies—can help you manage stress and reduce the urge to drink. Limiting your alcohol intake, avoiding binge drinking, and making sure you don’t drink on an empty stomach can also help prevent hangxiety. By understanding what triggers your anxiety and taking steps to avoid or manage these situations, you can reduce your risk of hangxiety and support your overall mental health.
Looking for quality substance abuse treatment that’s also affordable? South Coast accepts most major insurance providers. Get a free insurance benefits check now.
Check Your CoverageAlcohol Addiction Treatment at South Coast Behavioral Health
If you start drinking to feel more social, but your alcohol consumption leads to alcohol dependence or alcohol use disorder (AUD), it’s time to get help. Alcohol can worsen anxiety, not get rid of it. Mental health conditions like anxiety can even cause people to engage in drug and alcohol abuse to feel better. Anxiety symptoms the day after drinking alcohol increase the chances of drinking again to feel better.
If you or a loved one is addicted to alcohol, it’s time to seek alcohol addiction treatment. South Coast Behavioral Health offers affordable and compassionate alcohol addiction treatment that can make you feel more relaxed and reduce levels of anxiety.
The first step in treating substance abuse and alcohol addiction is a medical detox. This means using drugs to manage withdrawal symptoms.
Our medical detox program in California is staffed by caring and compassionate professionals who can provide you with medications to manage your withdrawal symptoms. This may include things like anti-seizure medication and antidepressants.
After detoxing, treatment should involve therapy to treat the drivers of addiction.
Treatment for substance abuse takes place along an entire spectrum of care. Along that entire spectrum are various behavioral therapies, support groups, and medically-assisted treatment (MAT).
These levels of treatment are, in order, as follows:
Residential Treatment in California
After completing medical detox, you’ll then receive inpatient treatment in Orange County California. There, you’ll receive medically-assisted treatment and dual diagnosis treatment to deal with any cravings or co-occurring mental health issues you may be battling.
We also offer residential treatment facilities in Costa Mesa, Irvine, and Huntington Beach for those who desire gender-specific treatment. There, patients get round-the-clock medical attention and monitoring while living at the institution full-time.
In addition to individual and group counseling and medication management, you’ll also have access to leisure activities and family support services.
Partial Hospitalization in California
Most patients start substance abuse treatment with South Coast in our residential treatment program. After completing that, many desire something that still provides structure and support, but with extra space and time to oneself. For that, we offer Partial Hospitalization in Newport Beach.
A step down from inpatient care but with more structure than conventional outpatient programs, partial hospitalization offers a good balance for those looking to ease back into normal life. patients can receive care five to seven days a week for several hours each day, returning to their homes in the evening.
This way, they can recover without putting their daily lives completely on hold, receiving intense therapeutic interventions like group and individual therapy, skill development, and medication management as necessary.
Intensive Outpatient Treatment in California
For those leaving inpatient residential treatment or partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient programs (IOP) are yet another gradual step forward on the road to recovery.
With a focus on group therapy, individual counseling, and education, patients undergoing Intensive Outpatient Treatment in Newport Beach can meet three to five days a week. Each session lasts three hours.
This level of care requires the least amount of attendance at a facility.
Get Started Today
If you are constantly struggling with anxiety after drinking, it may be time to make a change. Alcohol addiction is a serious disease but can be overcome with proper treatment. If you or a loved one are struggling with alcohol addiction but wonder how long addiction treatment takes or have other questions, call us at 866-881-1184. Our highly qualified staff will be happy to help give you an idea of what to expect from your addiction recovery timeline, verify your insurance, and assist with any other questions.
Reach out today to speak with a representative who can help you determine your treatment options and get you started on the road to recovery with anxiety treatment in Orange County, CA.
